What if we could receive real-time feedback on our social interactions? Would unbiased third party monitors be better suited to interpret situations and make decisions for the parties involved? How might augmenting our experience help us become more aware in our relationships, shift us out of normal patterns, and open us to unexpected possibilities? I am developing a system like this for myself using Amazon Mechanical Turk. During a series of dates with new people I meet on the internet, I will stream the interaction to the web using an iPhone app. Turk workers will be paid to watch the stream, interpret what is happening, and offer feedback as to what I should do or say next. This feedback will be communicated to me via text message.

january 28, 8:00pm, alone

MTurk options:

MTurk payment: $0.40
Number responses: 49
Avg time/task: 3:54

Avg MTurk interaction rating: 3.1

After a few days in LA with friends, I’m back in Portland, feeling more alone than ever. To do this project, I moved to a place where I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew already. I’ve been spending every night with a stranger. A friend of mine told me before I started that she doesn’t do online dating anymore because she often found herself on dates feeling more alone than if she were by herself. I now understand completely. I’ve met so many people desperately searching for the one. I feel bad when I don’t like them, I feel bad when I do — I feel like such a disappointment every time. I find myself relying on the workers to stave off the feelings of isolation on the worst of dates. Knowing they are watching somehow has kept me from feeling completely alone. They are my companions, my co-conspirators, my wingmen. They are the only other ones that really knew the truth of what I am doing.

For some reason, I always feel a need to push these projects past any point of feeling rational or in control. There is something about these moments that both excites and terrifies me — driving through the dark to meet a stranger to have a potentially awkward conversation, keeping track of all the technology components I have hacked together, making sure they’re all charged, running, bug-free, worrying about whether tonight’s experiment will prove interesting or insightful, daring to believe I might meet someone really wonderful, scared of disappointment, scared to disappoint, scared of boredom, wondering what I’m doing, wondering why I’m doing it. I have systematically disrupted all my systems for understanding myself and the context I operate in.

‘The two people seem to be meeting but missing each other over and over. The woman seems lost in her own thoughts and confused. At other times, she seems engaged and excited and smiling. The guy seems interested but unsure. The rhythm keeps shifting. Neither seem to know what to think.’

time

how do the man and woman appear to be feeling?

rating

what do you want the woman to do?

explanation

20:12

Both were enjoying each other company and showing interest on their talks.

4

agree

They are confirming each other opinions.

20:12

Each person seems to be alittle nervous.

2

laugh

The interaction seems to be a little too high tech

20:14

Women can do anything and everything

3

smile

Women always have smiling face

20:14

It seems like she is interviewing a random guy, or maybe doing like a dating sort of thing, getting to know the guy. She is fidgeting with her coffee and drinking alot.

2

laugh

I think with the topic that they are discussing, it would be super hilarious and odd for her to burst into laughter.

20:15

Each person appears to become happy in the transaction.

5

question

I like to ask a question in the interaction to show women authority.

20:15

She is discussing with a guy about some data centers,text analysis and somemoreabout his job.

3

smile

Rather i would smile and may agree with the interaction with the guy.

20:17

They are easily sharing their life aspects and have a sense of agreement among their thoughts and opinions.

4

agree

She was listening carefully and agreeing to the man’s point of view.

20:18

Every person in this family is feeling happy and the man and the lady are sharing drinks and discussing.Kids are also happy and doing their own works.

5

agree

I will really enjoy the moment.

20:19

I don’t get the feeling hat either one of the individuals are excited, they seem bored or maybe even nervous. They sound like they maybe just getting to know each other by asking each other questions about their jobs and when replying they are being very decriptive of their jobs. As the conversation continues they seem to become a little more comfortable with each other.

3

laugh

I think laughing a little shows the other person that you are enjoying their company and it helps loosen up the conversation so you and the other person aren’t so tense, you can be your tru self.

20:23

tell her to leave this guy and back off..

2

side

boring conversation… this was a strange HIT

20:24

It looks like she’s talking and drinking a cup of coffee with someone. She seems very interested in what the guy is saying.

4

smile

She seems to really be interested in what he’s saying and having a good time. She should give signals that she’s enjoying his company.

20:25

maybe the girl in crush with the guy.

4

smile

because i am with man who i like.

20:25

two people discussing

3

question

two people discussing

20:27

The man and the lady are sharing some drinks and sorting something while talking. Everybody are happy including kids.

5

agree

I will really enjoy it.

20:27

The man and lady are having their cup of tea and discussing about a game.They are doing it on the table with spread game keys.

5

advance

It is nice to be in the company,explaining a game which is funny.

20:30

Every person at this time seems very bored and lazy as if they had been in the same spot for a long period of time. They seem very out of it as well.

1

laugh

she seems bored i would like to bring joy into her life

20:30

I THINK THEY WERE HAPPY IN THIS MOMENT

3

smile

BE HAPPY ANY TIME SO SMILE

20:30

feeling somewhat happy

4

agree

no comments

20:35

There were 4 persons involved in the video.one is moving,other is using the system and the other two persons having conversation with each other.

1

question

the women should come forward

20:40

They must be happy and excited to do what they are doing.

3

agree

because they are playing some kind of a game and i don’t think that should be a hinderence for her to go against him or his playing a game.

20:43

some playing games

2

challenge

caram borad playing

20:43

two persons are involved in a converstaion

2

back

the video had not covered full situation.

20:44

Man is feeling warm and trying to open up.

Woman is bit wavered in her approach.

3

side

Conversation seems boring and needs to be improved.

20:45

Each person perform their action in without interest.

2

back

She was sitting the chair and reading books.

20:45

In my each person appears very cool and comfortable.

4

smile

In my view nice smile gives nice impact to others.if we are in problems also don’t worry be cool and always keep smile that is very good to us

20:48

i dont actually understand what they are doin g,I think they are making some croft work.

3

smile

i really dont know what to do

20:50

They appear to be nervous. Small talk is happening at a stilted pace.

2

challenge

The best way to find out about someone is to challenge something and see how they respond.

20:51

each person in this video seems to be relaxed,talking and having good time.

3

laugh

laugh it off and move on to another subject

20:51

In this video, i see two guys sitting down at a table, which looks like that they are playing a game. Looks like dominoes, but I am not 100% sure. I would tell the woman in the background to sit with the two guys and ask them if she can play dominoes also with them.

3

challenge

If I were the woman. I would walk up to the two guys sitting at the table and ask them If I could play dominoes also. Two guys and a woman playing dominoes is challenging and fun.

20:55

Each one is busy and engaged in their own work.

Some are serving while some are having dinner on the table.

A quiet place to hang out.

3

back

being a woman,I would have preferred to back off from such scenario.

20:56

She is trying to arrange some cubes in specific manner with a company in a hotel

3

smile

its a challenging opportunity to find a target

21:00

This room is created feeling is family atmosphere,once changed her dress and next one is talking and doing any work.

3

agree

This room is created feeling is family atmosphere,once changed her dress and next one is talking and doing any work.

21:02

I think the woman and a man is playing some game like cards and having conversation.The whole thing is happening in a closed room.

2

agree

It may be a better choice for her.

21:04

Each person possess some task and working to fulfill that.

2

disagree

I cant manage in such situation and could sign off.

21:07

SHE IS TALKING TO SOMEONE AND LOOKS SHE IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE.

3

smile

TO REMAIN HAPPY

21:08

The person seems to be relaxed and mostly playing the game.

3

smile

There is not much interaction between the persons and they are interested in the game.

21:08

i think the lady is talking casually about a matter to her fellow.

4

agree

if would then i too talk and cistern to some matters of others.

21:08

each person feeling happy at this moment

4

agree

i will agree

21:08

Nichiren’s practice of chanting ‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo’ with faith in our inherent Buddha nature actualizes the principles of ichinen sanzen in the life of the practitioner. More than enabling one to see things from a different perspective, Nichiren’s teaching emphasizes our ability to positively transform the world for the benefit of oneself and others.

3

agree

no thanks sir

21:09

i cant able to understand the whole feeling in that video but some thing is going to be terrible i felt everybody is doing their works ,one chair is hiding back their actions that’s what i felt

1

back

i felt terrible so mostly i used to back off this situation

21:17

I only see hands moving what I guess to be game pieces. I think they are playing scrabble at a coffee house.

2

agree

They don’t seem to be arguing. I would continue not arguing and enjoy myself.

21:18

I think this is place can all are doing their work very clearly and also i think this is beauty parlor, every woman can do their work properly.

3

laugh

becuase if am there what to do no body can talk they are like machines, definetly will lauch and then start to my own place.

21:22

everybody is busy playing with game each other as its very unknown game and i am not able find out what is this game.its a restaurant

2

smile

I will play instead of blackout.

21:22

conference

3

back

i will back off

21:29

Good

5

agree

Good

21:30

Each person is feeling happy and relaxing them selves

4

smile

i quiet enjoying

21:31

she is in a creative mood.she is working with an object.

5

challenge

i am challenging for my future.

21:32

Sounds like a first date or a speed dating meeting. The guy seems to be trying to hard to impress the woman and sounds a bit nervous. The woman is being very kind but I don’t think she cares about what he is saying. He is talking far too much.

3

other – Move on to a different guy

The guy is very nice but I don’t think they would be a good match. She seems to need a bit more excitment and she has little interest in what he is talking about. I would tell him that he is a very kind and sweet man but just not my type and not agree to see him again. But who knows, maybe there is more to the story.

21:34

The two people seem to be meeting but missing each other over and over. The woman seems lost in her own thoughts and confused. At other times, she seems engaged and excited and smiling. The guy seems interested but unsure. The rhythm keeps shifting. Neither seem to know what to think.